Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has outlined five strategic pathways to accelerate the adoption of the .ng domain and position it as a critical driver of Nigeria’s digital economy.
L–R: Mr. Ahmad Mukoshy, Director, Nigeria Internet Registration Association Executive Board; Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, Chairman, Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA); Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, President, NiRA; Mrs. Seyi Onasanya, Chief Operating Officer, NiRA; Member and Mr. Adebiyi Oladipo, Member, NiRA Board of Trustees during the .ng Media Advocacy and Capacity Building.
Oluwaseyi Onasanya, Chief Operating Officer of NiRA, presented the framework at a Media Advocacy and Capacity Building Workshop held on April 16.
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Onasanya described the .ng domain as a key component of Nigeria’s digital sovereignty, noting that the country has about 65 per cent internet penetration and over 35.6 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contributing nearly 48 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
She said the first pathway involves mandating the use of .ng domains across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as subnational entities, government vendors and tax remitters.
According to her, this would ensure that all official digital communications with government institutions are conducted through .ng platforms, while also linking domain usage to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration and procurement processes.
The second strategy focuses on a nationwide awareness campaign tagged “Own Your .ng, Own Your Future,” aimed at promoting the domain as a symbol of national identity, trust and economic value.
Onasanya said the third pathway calls for leadership from the private sector, urging banks, telecommunications companies, startups and SMEs to adopt .ng domains and integrate them into onboarding processes.
She added that the fourth strategy seeks to position .ng as a secure and regulated alternative to foreign domains, enhancing consumer confidence, improving local search visibility and strengthening jurisdictional control.
The fifth pathway centres on expanding the digital ecosystem by strengthening registrar networks, simplifying user experience and integrating .ng domains into internet service providers, digital platforms and national performance metrics.
Onasanya warned that Nigeria’s domain adoption rate remains low compared to global peers, noting that the country has approximately one domain per 855 citizens, far behind countries like Germany, the United Kingdom and China.
She cautioned that low adoption could lead to capital flight, as businesses continue to rely on foreign domain platforms in an increasingly digital global economy.
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She also called on the media to drive awareness, shape public perception and promote adoption by highlighting the economic value of .ng domains across sectors.
“Without media, .ng stays technical. With media, it becomes economic,” he said.
NiRA said that over 240,000 .ng domains have been registered so far, with projections indicating continued growth as Nigeria targets a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
